Food Therapy Formula for Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness
Food Therapy Formula for Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness
With autumn arriving, the climate shifts from hot to cool, and air moisture decreases, leading to various physiological changes in the human body caused by dryness—commonly known as “autumn dryness.” Typical clinical manifestations include thirst, dry throat, hoarseness, dry cough, and dry skin. While healthy individuals can generally adapt to changing climates, older adults with weak constitutions face a serious challenge, making them prone to catching colds or triggering conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema, heart-lung disease, and coronary heart disease.
Based on the characteristics of autumn dryness, seniors should not only engage in regular outdoor activities but also pay attention to dietary adjustments to resist “dryness.” Following the principle of “dryness should be moistened” in autumn health preservation, it is best to adopt food therapy formulas that nourish yin and moisturize dryness.
Pear Porridge: Two pears, washed and chopped including skin and seeds, mixed with 100 grams of glutinous rice and cooked into porridge with water. During dry autumn weather, people often experience dry mouth, nasal dryness, and dry cough without phlegm—conditions associated with dry heat. Pears possess excellent moisturizing properties, and when used to make porridge, they serve as a beneficial health food for daily consumption during autumn.
Carrot Porridge: 250 grams of carrots, washed and chopped, combined with 100 grams of glutinous rice and cooked into porridge with water. This is highly beneficial for those suffering from rough skin, night blindness, dry eyes, and childhood rickets. Especially during dry autumn, when people commonly experience rough skin, chapped lips, dry eyes, and increased dandruff, eating carrot porridge offers preventive and therapeutic effects.
Sesame Porridge: 50 grams of sesame seeds and 100 grams of glutinous rice. First roast the sesame seeds until fragrant, then mix them into cooked glutinous rice porridge and consume together. Recommended for those with liver and kidney deficiency, dizziness, blurred vision, premature graying or hair loss, pale yellow sparse hair in children, dry cough due to lung dryness, and habitual constipation. Sesame porridge also promotes longevity and can be taken regularly as a health food for the elderly.
Chrysanthemum Porridge: 50 grams of chrysanthemum flowers and 100 grams of glutinous rice. First prepare a decoction from chrysanthemum flowers, then use the broth to cook the rice into porridge. It has effects of dispersing wind-heat and clearing liver fire, providing certain therapeutic benefits for autumn wind-heat colds, irritability, dry throat, and red, swollen eyes. (Source: MaiBo Health Information)